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Cell Smear: Preparation, Screening And Interpretation

Virginia rates for HCPCS 88161

Covers preparing a slide from loose cells collected from a site other than the cervix, screening it under the microscope, and the physician's interpretation of what is found. The cells may have been brushed, washed, scraped or drawn off from a body surface or a fluid. The report sets out whether the cells look normal, inflamed, infected or abnormal.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Cell Smear: Preparation, Screening And Interpretation cost?

$56.23

Typical negotiated rate. In Virginia, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $56.23 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $36.31 to $69.18.

These are rates insurers have negotiated with providers, not the amount a patient is billed. What you owe depends on your plan's deductible and coinsurance. Based on rates published by 8 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

How much rates vary

Professionalmedian $56 · 10th to 90th $27 to $105
$50$100professional $56

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Each curve is scaled to its own total: facility and professional rates are different services, shown together to compare where they cluster. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$54.95
Median
$56.23
Typical High
$107.15
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$19.05
Median
$20.89
Typical High
$41.69
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$34.67
Median
$37.15
Typical High
$64.57
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$26.92
Median
$26.92
Typical High
$51.29
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$10.47
Median
$10.47
Typical High
$20.42
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$16.60
Median
$16.60
Typical High
$30.90
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$23.44
Median
$70.79
Typical High
$85.11
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$19.95
Median
$22.39
Typical High
$26.30
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$45.71
Median
$52.48
Typical High
$61.66
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$27.54
Median
$45.71
Typical High
$114.82
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$11.22
Median
$14.45
Typical High
$46.77
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$14.79
Median
$30.20
Typical High
$72.44
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$81.28
Median
$100.00
Typical High
$114.82
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$23.99
Median
$28.84
Typical High
$33.11
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$57.54
Median
$69.18
Typical High
$83.18
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$22.39
Median
$22.39
Typical High
$22.39
Sentara
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$30.90
Median
$66.07
Typical High
$138.04
Sentara
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$23.44
Median
$28.84
Typical High
$48.98
Sentara
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$27.54
Median
$44.67
Typical High
$100.00
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$39.81
Median
$69.18
Typical High
$112.20
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$15.85
Median
$26.30
Typical High
$53.70
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$21.38
Median
$41.69
Typical High
$69.18

Where Virginia sits

The same service costs 3.5 times more in Minnesota than in Rhode Island. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Touch or drag across it to read any state, then open that state for its carriers and full range.

Virginia· 37th of 51

$56.23

MN $170RI $47.86

Median negotiated rate in each state, from every insurer that publishes one. States where no insurer publishes a rate for this service are not shown.